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Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in thegraphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up toridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement.[1]Although satire is usually meant to be funny, its greater purpose is often constructive social criticism, using wit as a weapon.

A common feature of satire is strong irony or sarcasm—”in satire, irony is militant”[2]—butparody, burlesque, exaggeration, juxtaposition, comparison, analogy, and double entendre are all frequently used in satirical speech and writing. This “militant” irony or sarcasm often professes to approve of (or at least accept as natural) the very things the satirist wishes to attack.

Satire is nowadays found in many artistic forms of expression, including literature, plays, commentary, and media such as lyrics.